Trump wanted to cripple Iran – now he might be handing Tehran a victory – opinion

US President Donald Trump's strategy against Iran, initially aimed at crippling its nuclear and missile capabilities and severing support for proxies, appears to be yielding an unexpected outcome. Despite two American bombing campaigns, Iran's regime has survived, its nuclear ambitions remain unresolved, and its military capabilities are being rebuilt. The US is reportedly considering releasing frozen Iranian funds and offering partial sanctions relief in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz for commercial passage. This move, if realized, would contradict Trump's stated goal of denying Iran revenue and could allow Tehran to rebuild its military and support proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas. The article suggests this could embolden groups like Hamas, undermining the credibility of US-led peace initiatives in Gaza. Furthermore, regional allies are increasingly forming independent security coalitions, raising questions about their alignment with Israeli and American interests. The author questions whether this tactical pause is a prelude to a stronger stance or if Iran is effectively outlasting Trump politically, potentially achieving a victory by enduring sanctions and military pressure.